Friday, September 02, 2005 - 09:23 pm, by: Dan McColl(Hoon)
Hay guys. I just thought if anyone was bored and wanted to read about the trials and tribulations of my active rebuild. As anyone who has read my profile will know I bought active no 138 on the 23/06/05. When I bought it I knew it had some problems but I had no idea how long everything took. I am doing all the work myself, partly to get an understanding of the car and also to make sure that everything is done properly and no dodgy shothcuts are taken. So far I have finished the work on the engine except for an oilchange, but I can't run it yet as the hydraulics are in pieces. The engine started out as a waterpump change, Simple enough, I thought. Anyway, after removing the radiator, I thought I should get a new top tank on that as they normally go a bit later and it was looking a bit shabby, so I did that. Next came the 17 layers of crap that goes between the radiator and the water pump. Eventually I did get in there, I thought I should do the timing belt and idler/tensioner bearings. So while I'm at it I figured I would do all the other pulley bearings for the accessory (serpentine) belts. So while all that was off the next bit was, in fact, the waterpump. Unfortunately for me the bypass (the bit above the waterpump was seized and i had to pull the cam pulleys off and all the ignition bits off and remove that whole pipe that goes between both the cylinder heads. Anyway, Got all that off and YAY, finally up to the water pump. Pulled that off and not only had it corroded out a hole in the front (bad/cheap coolant) but the impeller was nearly falling off the shaft. Anyway, After that it was a (relatively) simple matter of putting everything back on in roughly the reverse of pulling it off. But thats another story altogether Gotta go now but stay tuned for more of the story and some piccys when i can be less illiterate.
Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 06:24 pm, by: Anton Jones(Alj)
I feel for you mate. I have exactly the same habit... whilst I've got this off lets just do/buy xyz. Then I'll never have to get under/around/in here again. At some point you'd think you'd realise that you can't just replace the whole car (especially when it was 'fine' to start with).
I've learnt recently that you just go give it a service and a wax (a wax will always make you proud and buggered).
Neil Griffiths Trader 1 x JZZ30,2 x UZZ31,1 x UZZ32,1 x UZZ Track Car,1 x AeroCabin,1 x Crown V8,1 x Celsior
Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 09:12 pm, by: Dan McColl(Hoon)
yeah. I've got piccys but need to resize to upload. I've now finished the engine but i'm gonna run some water with cooling flush through before i put in the coolant. I have all the front suspension out and am in the middle of re-bushing the control arms and re-sealing the struts. I am also working on getting the rear control arms out and the rear struts are to be re-sealed as well. The blinky dash repair has been carried out and i removed the reverse beeper. I just wish someone would do a same day service for deliveries from japan. Still a bit to go and trying to find some parts but it's an experience.
Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 10:06 pm, by: Danny Thomas(Dannyboy)
Hence the profile shot hehe, I wish I have the knowledge you do Dan, there's things i'd love to do myself (like timing belt) but I dunno how, scared incase I stuff something, when I get the cash i'll ask Lew to do it.
Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 07:19 pm, by: Dan McColl(Hoon)
Well, the saga continues. I have now overhauled all four struts, Just have to get the nitrogen charge replenished and they are good to go. The front upper and lower control arms have been re bushed now, just waiting to go back in. I currently have one arm and half a rear strut on the way to Andrew Vlamos to try and get the strut mounting bushes made up. Anyone else with an active should submit their requests to Andrew. The rear upper control arms are ready to remove as soon as I get the special tool to do the bushes. Then just waiting on a steering rack end and a couple of other bits and she should be back on wheels. . Then to flush the power steering and the hydraulics. Will keep updating when I make progress, And some photos soon, I promise.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 10:55 pm, by: Dan McColl(Hoon)
I got some more done tonight. All after work. I got all the rear suspension out and ready to be re bushed, While pressing the first bush out of the l/h upper rear control arm I was taking up the press and as I was applying pressure waiting for it to move *BANG* my first major up f**k. The bush kinked on an angle and cracked the control arm. Sorry about the pics, they're off my phone.
So now to find another one or if I have to, get it welded. I now have the special tools made up for pressing in the rear bushes. Some pipe and 15 minutes with an angle grinder, Priceless. I got the other 3 arms bushed and re installed back in the car. Now some string for a rough wheel alignment. I have the special valves and inflator coming so that I can recharge my active struts with nitrogen. Then to re fit the struts and fit the front control arms. I have one front and half a rear strut with Andrew Vlamos at the moment to see if he can do the strut mounting bushes. The new rack end is waiting at brighton toyota for me to pick up, and waiting on a few other bits from here and there. Slow progress but it's slowly coming together. Then some trim, some paintwork where the clear coat is flaking off (I'll leave this to the pro's, I think) and it should be lovely, Then to finally drive this bloody thing (I havent even driven it yet) Some progress pics, Its a dentist, so we cant show you its face.
P.S. can some one tell me how to thumbnail, I couldn't work out what the 'full url' is.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:37 pm, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
Dan, a thumbnail links to a picture already on the Internet somewhere. Hence it asks for the URL (Internet address) of the picture you wish to thumbnail.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:55 pm, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
If you upload a picture to SC, then it is on the net because SC is on the net. It won't show anywhere else however unless someone snaffles a copy and then puts it somewhere else on the net.
What I was referring to before, is eg you might have your own web site, and rather than upload a pic twice, if it already exists on your web site, then you can use a thumbnail to link to the existing pic instead of having to upload it here as well.
The advantage of thumbnails is also that if you have a very large detailed pic which is larger than we allow here, thumbnailling it allows people to still access the full version while only seeing a small image on the forum.
The disadvantage is, that if the pic is ever removed from it's location on the net, then the thumbnail link will no longer work.
Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 07:10 pm, by: Dan McColl(Hoon)
And so the saga continues. I managed to get a second hand control arm, Which is now re-bushed and fitted. That means that the whole ar*e end is done, bar the struts and some new gas struts for the boot. I'm still waiting to hear from Vlam about the strut attach bushes, But no doubt he will come up with a spectacular solution. My little valves for the nitrogen bit on the struts should be here early next week, so I can finish the struts and bang 'em back in. New steering rack end fitted, so that's the steering sorted. I noticed a drip of coolant under the car today, which I'm sot sure if its spillage or if its leaking somewhere, (I f**ken hope not). All the woodgrain trim is now filled, look's hot. I'm in the middle of fitting the shifter and handbrake cover thingo. While I was at it I decided to pull the whole console out and see what was under it, I found half the screws holding the EMV missing, so now to find some screws. Anyway, its getting closer. To Be Continued.......